Defying calls for his sacking, Auburn's deputy mayor Salim Mehajer was re-elected to the position on Wednesday night after his name was drawn from a box to break a tied vote.

Only eight out of 10 councillors voted and a Labor councillor left the room instead of voting for the Labor candidate for the deputy mayor's position.

Cr Mehajer's lavish wedding last month caused a storm of protest after he blocked off an Auburn street for the celebration, which featured helicopters, a jet and a fleet of luxury cars.

The property developer has also raised controversy by voting on council matters potentially benefiting him, thanks to a 2012 amendment to Section 451 of the Local Government Act. The law allows councillors to vote on changes to planning controls in which they have an interest as long as that interest is declared.

On Wednesday night, Cr Mehajer and his rival for the deputy mayor position, Labor councillor George Campbell, tied with four votes each after Labor councillor Hicham Zraika left the room and Liberal councillor Steve Yang abstained.

The two names were then put in a box and general manager Mark Busby pulled out Cr Mehajer's name, which led to applause.

Councillor Irene Simms told Fairfax Media she was "horrified" with the result, describing Cr Mehajer as "Mr Teflon".

"I think this is a slap in the face to the community that he was even nominated," she said.

"I think this will ultimately lead to the dismissal of this council.

"I can't see, given this man's history, how they [the four councillors who voted for him] could put this man up on a pedestal and say he is a beacon for the community."

Ms Simms said Labor councillor Hicham Zraika breached an agreement to vote for Cr Campbell when he left the meeting and refused to vote for his Labor colleague.

"This led to Salim getting elected when it should have been George Campbell," she said.

Cr Campbell said his Labor colleague "sabotaged the vote with his hasty departure".

"The result of the elections last night further illustrates the need for an investigation into the culture on Auburn council."

Cr Campbell said Cr Zraika voted in the election of the mayor, which was tied five votes to five for Semra Batik-Dundar and Le Lam before he left the room. Cr Lam's name was drawn from the box.

Cr Campbell said Cr Zraika signed his nomination form, giving him the impression that Cr Zraika would stick to an agreement between five council members to back him for the deputy mayor's position. The five included Cr Batik-Dundale, Cr Simms and councillor Tony Oldfield.

Cr Batik-Dundar told Fairfax Media she was disappointed at missing out on the mayor's position but thought it was a fair vote.

She said she was "shocked" that Cr Mehajer was a candidate for deputy mayor "after everything that has happened".

"I am sure there are going to be a lot of people in the community [who] will be upset with that."

​Cr Zraika said he had signed an agreement in 2012 to vote for Cr Campbell this year in the role of deputy mayor.

"I have stuck to the agreement until now, but when it came to Cr Campbell, I couldn't see myself voting for him to a leadership position because he has been running a negative campaign against the council in general, despite its good work over the years."

Fairfax Media has sought comment from Cr Mehajer.

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